Horse racing news: Constitution Hill receives Timeform ‘x’ following fall in Fighting Fifth at Newcastle

Ratings experts Timeform have attached an ‘x’ symbol to Constitution Hill’s rating of 166 following his latest fall in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

The ‘x’ denotes a ‘poor jumper’ and has been given to Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old after his third fall in four starts.

Little margin for error

Timeform handicapper Phil Turner said: “Top hurdlers have little margin for error due to their rapid jumping technique so it’s inevitable some will fall from time to time.

“Night Nurse, for example, is widely regarded as one of the most fluent jumpers of all time, yet even he suffered a terrible fall in the 1977 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton, one which ended the career of his regular jockey Paddy Broderick.

“Sea Pigeon, like Constitution Hill, also hit the floor three times during his jumping career, but those falls were sporadic and not of huge concern.

“By contrast, mistakes crept into Istabraq’s repertoire late in his career, two last-flight falls from his final five starts possibly a reflection that his powers were on the wane.

“Three falls in four starts hints at even more ingrained issues for Constitution Hill, particularly as two of them have come before the race had begun in earnest.

“As a result, we have little choice but to attach the symbol ‘x’ [which denotes a poor jumper] to Constitution Hill’s Timeform rating for now – a decision which would have been inconceivable this time last year.”

With Constitution Hill crashing out at the second hurdle, The New Lion (156p) was left in the lead, but also came down after making a mistake at the second last, whilst third favourite Anzadam (151) flattered to deceive in the dash for home.

All of which paved the way for reigning champion hurdler Golden Ace (148) to pick up the pieces in similar fashion as at Cheltenham back in March.

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